THE government of the State of São Paulo has conducted a public hearing for the planned Inter-City Train Express service (TIC), the Inter-metropolitan Train service (TIM) and associated improvements for commuter rail Line 7-Ruby.
The virtual hearing took place on August 16 and discussed the entire TIC Eixo Norte project, which will be a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme. Modelling has been carried out with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB).
TIC Eixo Norte covers a set of public passenger services linking São Paulo and Campinas, with three levels of service comprising:
- an express train operating on the 101km São Paulo - Jundiaí - Campinas line
- a stopping service on the 65.8km section between Francisco Morato - Jundiaí - Campinas with stops at nine stations, serving eight municipalities, and
- a Metropolitan service with stops on Line 7-Ruby, connecting São Paulo to Francisco Morato. This is currently operated by Paulista Metropolitan Trains Company (CPTM). It is 35.19km long, has 13 stations and serves four municipalities in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region.
The planned concession term for TIC Eixo Norte would be 30 years, and the preliminary economic-financial model suggests four income sources. These are: public contribution, consideration paid by the granting authority for the operation of both Line 7-Ruby and TIM services, TIC tariff revenues received directly by the concessionaire and accessory revenues.
